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Can A Smart Home Improve Your Life?

Imagine saying “Goodnight” to your house right from your bedside with the push of a button on your phone – all the lights go out, TVs go off, shades close, thermostats adjust, garage doors close, doors lock and the security system is armed. Better yet, if you pair this with Alexa you can do it with your voice. The concept of the Smart House has been talked about for years but is finally here.

A “Smart Home” is a residence that has lighting, climate control, computers, entertainment audio & video systems, security, and camera systems that are capable of communicating with one another and can be controlled remotely by a time schedule, from any room in the home, as well as remotely from any location in the world by phone or internet. Basically, all the electronic components and systems you already use daily work together, seamlessly.

Many of us have invested in individual apps like Nest and Ring to do some of these tasks, but the Control4 home automation system lets you do all these in one place. According to Seth Herold, owner of Home Theater Works, ” it is like having an operating system for your house.” Touch panels act as the nerve center for your house, displaying information as well as controlling audio, video, lighting, comfort and security systems. Your tablet or smartphone replicate this functionality when you are not near a touch panel or away from home.

As smart technology continues to transform our lives, our homes are being positioned as the next great frontier. The smart home devices coming to market touch almost every corner of our dwellings, from smart bulbs designed to help us sleep better, to smart watering systems for the garden.

Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Zillow, says we can expect to see more homeowners investing in smart features, especially those that would help reduce monthly expenses.

Other than convenience there are many hidden benefits: Energy EfficiencyHomeowners have the ability to make their homes “green” by utilizing home controllers integrated with all home sub-systems to increase savings by controlling lighting, window coverings, HVAC, irrigation and by monitoring usage thereby conserving of the earth’s limited resources.

SavingsBy making a home more efficient, owners save money on energy bills.

SecurityOwners have complete control over who comes and goes. They can receive alerts on their phone whenever the garage door opens. It also gives them the ability to unlock the front door for a housekeeper or out-of-town guest. Via the cameras, a homeowner can make sure the kids arrive home safely.

Entertain more fullyBy touching a button, one can manage the entertainment factor throughout their home. Who doesn’t want to listen to music in the shower?

Monitor UsageMany home controllers have built-in monitoring systems that calculate and log usage by all connected devices, giving the home owner heightened awareness and the knowledge to make changes as necessary.

Adding a system to any home is easy and affordable. In many cases the installation is minimally invasive and no holes in the walls are necessary. A system can grow to meet the needs of a changing family at the homeowners own pace and budget.

One of the biggest hidden benefits that comes with home automation is peace of mind. No more worrying if you turned of the lights, locked the door or turned off the television. For people who have a lot on their plates, being able to easily check these items off the to-do list and stop the obsessive worrying, home automation is reassuring and definitely worth the investment.